Hyderabad: The Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) on Friday became the first hospital in South India to install and operationalize Cobas-8800 RT-PCR.
The new machine Cobas-8800 uses nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2.
This equipment can conduct close to 3,000 COVID-19 tests in a day and test results in three and a half hours.
“Roche Diagnostics launched this equipment in July for the testing of COVID-19, as we can see a steady rise in infection in almost all parts of the country. High Volume and high-quality diagnostic tests are important to avoid the infected spread by the virus,” said Dr. Shravan Subramanyam.
Managing Director India, and Neighbouring markets, Roche Diagnostics India.
The Cobas-8800 along with a high-end Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, in which it has been established, was inaugurated by Health Minister Eatala Rajender here on Friday.
The State government has invested close to Rs 6 crore to set-up the high-end lab at NIMS.
Health Minister Eatala Rajender, who inaugurated the machine said that it could be used for HIV and hepatitis tests.